Fluid control device and connector for fluid control device

ABSTRACT

The present invention relates to a fluid control device and a connector for the same. The connector includes a first unit and a second unit to form a connector in a particular shape. Thus, the connector and an adjacent connector can be stacked upon each other to allow simple disassembling. The present invention also provides a fluid control device including the connector.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a Divisional of co-pending application Ser. No.16/207,715, filed on Dec. 3, 2018, for which priority is claimed under35 U.S.C. § 120; and this application claims priority of U.S.Provisional Application No. 62/594,805, filed on Dec. 5, 2017, under 35U.S.C. § 119(e), the entire contents of all of which are herebyincorporated by reference.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a fluid control device and a connectorthereof, and more particularly to a fluid control device that can besimply disassembled and assembled and has flexibility with high sealingperformance.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Fluid control devices are commonly applied in the semiconductorindustry, and aim to supply gases for semiconductor manufacturingprocesses, including diffusion, etching, sputtering and the like. Atpresent, a fluid control device mainly includes a plurality ofapparatuses, such as a pressure reducing valve, a pressure gauge, a massflow controller, a gas filter, a hand-operated valve, a first shut-offvalve, a second shut-off valve and the like, and includes variousconnectors for connecting the fluid control apparatuses to form achannel allowing a fluid to flow smoothly.

Even if the fluid control devices have been widely applied to thesemiconductor industry, there are still defects to be overcome. Forexample, since a variety of apparatuses are included in a fluid controldevice, the difficulty of assembling and disassembling the fluid controldevice is a problem to be solved. The solutions proposed currentlyinclude reducing the number of elements used in the fluid control deviceto achieve the effect of easy assembling.

For example, US patent No. US 2015/0075660 A1 discloses a fluid controlapparatus providing a method for solving the assembling problem. Theapparatus includes an upper stage having a plurality of fluid controldevices arranged in series and a lower stage having a plurality ofpassage blocks that connect the fluid control devices on the upperstage. The adjacent passage blocks are connected to one another throughinverted U-shaped pipes. Therefore, the apparatus is able to be easilyconstructed with a plurality of lines of passage blocks in parallel anda single line of passage blocks. The apparatus also has a reduced numberof components and enables simple alteration such as increasing ordecreasing the number of lines.

In addition, some of fluids flowing through the fluid control device maybe corrosive, so the corrosion resistance of the elements of the fluidcontrol device should be improved and the difficulty of cleaning thefluid control device should also be considered. Furthermore, the problemof leakage may occur frequently when a fluid flows in the fluid controldevice, and especially when a flowing gas is dangerous or harmful tohuman body, the fluid leakage problem needs to be avoided carefully.

In view of this, there is an urgent need to develop a novel fluidcontrol device capable of overcoming the above defects to meet therequirements in the industry.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

A main objective of the present invention is to solve the problem that aconventional fluid control device is not easy to disassemble orassemble.

Another objective of the present invention is to overcome the defectsthat a gas channel is prone to particle remaining therein and not easyto clean in a conventional connector for a fluid control device.

A further another objective of the present invention is to reduce therisks of leakage of a gas during the process of flowing in a fluidcontrol device.

To achieve the above objectives, an embodiment of the present inventionprovides a connector for a fluid control device that includes at leasttwo fluid flowing through holes. The connector includes: a first unithaving an upper surface, a lower surface opposite to the upper surface,a first fluid flowing through hole formed in the upper surface, a secondfluid flowing through hole formed in the upper surface, and a firstchannel that communicates the first fluid flowing through hole with thesecond fluid flowing through hole and is formed to extend through thefirst unit; and a second unit disposed under the first unit andincluding a mounting block protruding from a portion of the lowersurface of the first unit and a first depression portion adjacent to theother portion of the lower surface and the mounting block.

To achieve the above objectives, an embodiment of the present inventionprovides a connector for a fluid control device that includes at leastthree fluid flowing through holes. The connector includes a first unithaving an upper surface, a lower surface opposite to the upper surface,a first fluid flowing through hole formed in the upper surface, a secondfluid flowing through hole formed in the upper surface, and a fourthfluid flowing through hole formed in the upper surface, with a firstchannel being disposed between the first fluid flowing through hole andthe fourth fluid flowing through hole to communicate the first fluidflowing through hole with the fourth fluid flowing through hole; anextension unit that protrudes outwards from a side end of the firstunit, the extension unit including a third fluid flowing through hole,and a second channel being disposed between the third fluid flowingthrough hole and the second fluid flowing through hole to communicatethe second fluid flowing through hole with the third fluid flowingthrough hole; and a second unit disposed under the first unit andincluding a mounting block protruding from a portion of the lowersurface of the first unit and a first depression portion adjacent to theother portion of the lower surface and the mounting block.

A further another embodiment of the present invention provides aconnector including at least four fluid flowing through holes. Theconnector includes: a first unit having an upper surface, a lowersurface opposite to the upper surface, a first fluid flowing throughhole formed in the upper surface, a second fluid flowing through holeformed in the upper surface, a fourth fluid flowing through hole formedin the upper surface, a fifth fluid flowing through hole formed in theupper surface, and a sixth fluid flowing through hole formed in theupper surface, where a first channel is disposed between the first fluidflowing through hole and the fifth fluid flowing through hole tocommunicate the first fluid flowing through hole with the fifth fluidflowing through hole, and a second channel is disposed between thesecond fluid flowing through hole and the sixth fluid flowing throughhole to communicate the second fluid flowing through hole with the sixthfluid flowing through hole; an extension unit that protrudes outwardsfrom a side end of the first unit, the extension unit including a thirdfluid flowing through hole, and a third channel being disposed betweenthe third fluid flowing through hole and the fourth fluid flowingthrough hole to communicate the third fluid flowing through hole withthe fourth fluid flowing through hole; and a second unit disposed underthe first unit and including a mounting block protruding from a portionof the lower surface of the first unit and a first depression portionadjacent to the other portion of the lower surface and the mountingblock.

A further another embodiment of the present invention provides aconnector including at least six fluid flowing through holes. Theconnector includes: a first unit having an upper surface, a lowersurface opposite to the upper surface, a first fluid flowing throughhole formed in the upper surface, a second fluid flowing through holeformed in the upper surface, a fourth fluid flowing through hole formedin the upper surface, a fifth fluid flowing through hole formed in theupper surface, and a sixth fluid flowing through hole formed in theupper surface, where a first channel is disposed between the first fluidflowing through hole and the fifth fluid flowing through hole tocommunicate the first fluid flowing through hole with the fifth fluidflowing through hole, and a second channel is disposed between thesecond fluid flowing through hole and the sixth fluid flowing throughhole to communicate the second fluid flowing through hole with the sixthfluid flowing through hole; an extension unit that protrudes outwardsfrom a side end of the first unit, the extension unit including a thirdfluid flowing through hole, and a third channel being disposed betweenthe third fluid flowing through hole and the fourth fluid flowingthrough hole to communicate the third fluid flowing through hole withthe fourth fluid flowing through hole; and a second unit disposed underthe first unit and including a mounting block protruding from a portionof the lower surface of the first unit and a first depression portionadjacent to the other portion of the lower surface and the mountingblock.

The present invention also provides a connector module for the fluidcontrol device. The connector module includes a plurality of connectingblocks that are arranged in an axial direction. Each of the connectingblocks includes an upper half portion that includes at least one fluidinlet, at least one fluid outlet, and at least one connecting channelcommunicating the fluid inlet with the fluid outlet and extending in ahorizontal direction, and a lower half portion that is provided with adepression portion and a tongue portion extending and protruding fromthe depression portion along the axial direction, where the connectingchannel is above an upper surface of the tongue portion. Adjacentconnecting blocks are accommodated in the depression portion through thetongue portion to be connected to each other.

The present invention further provides a connector module for the fluidcontrol device. The connector module includes a plurality of connectingblocks that are arranged in an axial direction. Each of the connectingblocks includes at least one fluid inlet, at least one fluid outlet, andat least one connecting channel communicating the fluid inlet with thefluid outlet and extending in a horizontal direction to be separatedfrom a bottom surface of the connecting block by a height, where aprotruding first tongue portion is formed at one end of the connectingblock, and a depression portion is formed at the other end of theconnecting block. Adjacent connecting blocks are connected to each otherby accommodating the first tongue portion in the depression portion.

The present invention further provides a fluid control device including:

a base;

a connector module disposed on the base and including:

a first connector including:

a first unit having a first upper surface, a first lower surfaceopposite to the first upper surface, a first fluid flowing through holeformed in the first upper surface, a second fluid flowing through holeformed in the first upper surface, and a first channel that communicatesthe first fluid flowing through hole with the second fluid flowingthrough hole and extends through the first unit;

a second unit disposed under the first unit and including a firstmounting block protruding from a portion of the first lower surface ofthe first unit, and a first depression portion adjacent to the otherportion of the lower surface and the first mounting block; and

a second connector including:

a third unit having a second upper surface, a second lower surfaceopposite to the second upper surface, a third fluid flowing through holeformed in the second upper surface, a fourth fluid flowing through holeformed in the second upper surface, and a second channel thatcommunicates the third fluid flowing through hole with the fourth fluidflowing through hole and extends through the third unit; and

a fourth unit disposed under the third unit and including a secondmounting block protruding from a portion of the second lower surface ofthe third unit, a second depression portion adjacent to the otherportion of the second lower surface and the second mounting block, and atongue portion far away from the second depression portion, where thefirst connector is abutted against the second connector by accommodatingthe tongue portion of the fourth unit in the first depression portion ofthe second unit; and

a fluid control element that is fastened to the base through theconnector module and bridged across the first connector and the secondconnector.

The present invention further provides a fluid control device including:

a base extending in an axial direction;

a fluid control element disposed above the base and provided with anoutlet and an inlet;

a connector module disposed between the fluid control element and thebase and including:

a plurality of connecting blocks that are arranged in the axialdirection, each of the plurality of connecting blocks including:

a fluid channel including a fluid inlet and a fluid outlet that areformed in an upper surface of the connecting block, and a U-shapedconnecting channel that communicates the fluid inlet with the fluidoutlet;

an upper tongue portion formed to protrude from one end of theconnecting block and provided with a first fixing hole extending througha bottom surface of the upper tongue portion; and

a lower tongue portion formed to protrude from the other end of theconnecting block and provided with a second fixing hole extendingthrough a top surface of the lower tongue portion;

a fastener that is put through the first fixing hole of the upper tongueportion of the connecting block and the second fixing hole of the lowertongue portion of the adjacent connecting block;

where the fluid control element is bridged across two adjacentconnecting blocks, and the outlet of the fluid control element isconnected to the fluid inlet of one of the connecting blocks, while theinlet of the fluid control element is connected to the fluid outlet ofanother connecting block.

The present invention further provides a fluid control device including:

a base extending in an axial direction;

a fluid control element disposed above the base and provided with anoutlet and an inlet;

a connector module disposed between the fluid control element and thebase and including:

a plurality of connecting blocks that are arranged in the axialdirection, each of the plurality of connecting blocks including:

a fluid channel including a fluid inlet and a fluid outlet that areformed in an upper surface of the connecting block, and a U-shapedconnecting channel that communicates the fluid inlet with the fluidoutlet;

an upper tongue portion formed to protrude from one end of theconnecting block and provided with a first fixing hole extending througha bottom surface of the upper tongue portion; and

a lower tongue portion formed to protrude from the other end of theconnecting block and provided with a second fixing hole extendingthrough a top surface of the lower tongue portion and a third fixinghole extending through a bottom surface of the lower tongue portion; and

an upper fastener that is put through the first fixing hole of the uppertongue portion of the connecting block and the second fixing hole of thelower tongue portion of the adjacent connecting block; and

a lower fastener that is put through the third fixing hole of the lowertongue portion of the connecting block and the base;

where the fluid control element is bridged across two adjacentconnecting blocks, and the outlet of the fluid control element isconnected to the fluid inlet of one of the connecting blocks, while theinlet of the fluid control element is connected to the fluid outlet ofanother connecting block.

Therefore, the present invention, compared with the prior art, canachieve the following effects:

(1) The fluid control device of the invention is connected through aconnector in a particular shape. The connector can be simply stackedupon an adjacent connector to allow for simple disassembling orassembling, and then the problem that the conventional fluid controldevice is not easy to disassemble or assemble is solved. Based on theabove connector, the embodiment of the fluid control device is allowedto be modularized. Through combination of different connectors, flexiblecombination with various fluid control elements can be realized.

(2) The connector design of the present invention allows a fluid to flowthrough a fluid channel in a single connector rather than a fluidchannel composed of a plurality of secondary channels connected to oneanother when passing from a fluid control element through the connectorto an adjacent fluid control element. In other words, assembling ofadjacent connectors does not involve joining of fluid channels, therebydecreasing the interface of the fluid channel, reducing the probabilityof fluid leakage, and having good sealing performance.

(3) The fluid flowing through holes of the present invention and/or thechannels between such fluid flowing through holes each have a mirrorsurface, so that the problem of particle remaining when a fluid flowingtherethrough can be effectively solved.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1A is a three-dimensional diagram of a first embodiment of atwo-port connector of the present invention.

FIG. 1B is a left view of the first embodiment of the two-port connectorof the present invention.

FIG. 1C is a bottom view of the first embodiment of the two-portconnector of the present invention.

FIG. 1D is a top view of the first embodiment of the two-port connectorof the present invention.

FIG. 1E is an A-A section view of FIG. 1D.

FIG. 1F is a B-B section view of FIG. 1D.

FIG. 2 is a three-dimensional diagram of a second embodiment of atwo-port connector of the present invention.

FIG. 3A is a three-dimensional diagram of a third embodiment of atwo-port connector of the present invention.

FIG. 3B is a left view of the third embodiment of the two-port connectorof the present invention.

FIG. 3C is a bottom view of the third embodiment of the two-portconnector of the present invention.

FIG. 3D is a top view of the third embodiment of the two-port connectorof the present invention.

FIG. 3E is a C-C section view of FIG. 3D.

FIG. 4 is a three-dimensional diagram of a fourth embodiment of atwo-port connector of the present invention.

FIG. 5A is a three-dimensional diagram of a first embodiment of athree-port connector of the present invention.

FIG. 5B is a three-dimensional diagram in another perspective of thefirst embodiment of the three-port connector of the present invention.

FIG. 5C is a left view of the first embodiment of the three-portconnector of the present invention.

FIG. 5D is a bottom view of the first embodiment of the three-portconnector of the present invention.

FIG. 5E is a top view of the first embodiment of the three-portconnector of the present invention.

FIG. 5F is a D-D section view of FIG. 5E.

FIG. 5G is an E-E section view of FIG. 5E.

FIG. 6 is a three-dimensional diagram of a second embodiment of athree-port connector of the present invention.

FIG. 7A is a three-dimensional diagram of a first embodiment of aconnector with more than four ports of the present invention.

FIG. 7B is an F-F section view of FIG. 7A.

FIG. 7C is a G-G section view of FIG. 7A.

FIG. 8 is a three-dimensional diagram of a second embodiment of aconnector with more than four ports of the present invention.

FIG. 9A is a three-dimensional diagram of a third embodiment of aconnector with more than four ports of the present invention.

FIG. 9B is a left view of the third embodiment of the connector withmore than four ports of the present invention.

FIG. 9C is a bottom view of the third embodiment of the connector withmore than four ports of the present invention.

FIG. 9D is a top view of the third embodiment of the connector with morethan four ports of the present invention.

FIG. 9E is an H-H section view of FIG. 9D.

FIG. 9F is an I-I section view of FIG. 9D.

FIG. 10A is a three-dimensional diagram of a first embodiment of aconnecting piece of the present invention.

FIG. 10B is a J-J section view of FIG. 10A.

FIG. 10C is a K-K section view of FIG. 10A.

FIG. 11A is a three-dimensional diagram of a second embodiment of aconnecting piece of the present invention.

FIG. 11B is an L-L section view of FIG. 11A.

FIG. 12A is a three-dimensional diagram of a fluid control device of anembodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 12B is a three-dimensional diagram in another perspective of thefluid control device of an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 12C is an exploded view of the fluid control device of anembodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 13 is a schematic diagram of a fluid control device of anotherembodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Details and technical contents of the present invention will beillustrated in conjunction with the drawings.

A fluid control device of the present invention includes a plurality offluid control elements arranged into a single line, and a plurality ofconnectors corresponding to the plurality of fluid control elements, andeach fluid control element is connected to the corresponding connectorso that a fluid flows between the connected fluid control element andconnector.

The plurality of fluid control elements included in the fluid controldevice of the present invention are not particularly limited and can bechosen arbitrarily as required. In a specific embodiment, each fluidcontrol element is selected from a group consisting of a pressurereducing valve, a pressure gauge, a mass flow controller, a filter, ahand-operated valve, a two-port shut-off valve, a three-port shut-offvalve, a high-cleanness pressure regulator valve, a pressure sensor andcombinations thereof. More particularly, the group may consist of ahand-operated valve, a two-port shut-off valve, a three-port shut-offvalve, a high-cleanness pressure regulator valve, a pressure sensor, afilter, a two-port shut-off valve, a mass flow controller, a three-portshut-off valve, and a two-port shut-off valve.

Connectors for the fluid control device of the present invention may beclassified into a two-port connector, a three-port connector, aconnector with more than four ports, and a connecting piece according tothe number of gas channel ports thereof. Such connectors will beillustrated below. In addition, such connectors each include a pluralityof units, each unit including an upper surface, a lower surface, a firstside surface, a second side surface, a third side surface, a fourth sidesurface, etc. For the convenience of description, surfaces in the sameorientations will be described with the same name and differentreference numerals for the purpose of distinction.

Two-Port Connectors

A two-port connector of the present invention refers to a connector withtwo fluid flowing through holes, one being a fluid inlet and the otherbeing a fluid outlet.

FIGS. 1A-F show a first embodiment 1 a of a two-port connector of thepresent invention. With reference to FIG. 1A and FIG. 1B, the two-portconnector 1 a is provided with a first unit 11 and a second unit 12. Thefirst unit 11 is disposed on the second unit 12.

The first unit 11 includes a first mounting block 11 a and a firsttongue portion 11 c, and the first unit 11 is further provided with anupper surface 111, a lower surface 112 opposite to the upper surface111, and a first side surface 113, a second side surface 114, a thirdside surface 115 and a fourth side surface 116 that are connected to theupper surface 111 and the lower surface 112, respectively. The firstside surface 113 is disposed corresponding to the third side surface115, while the second side surface 114 is disposed corresponding to thefourth side surface 116. The second unit 12 includes a second mountingblock 12 a and a second depression portion 12 b. The second mountingblock 12 a protrudes from a portion of the lower surface 112 of thefirst unit 11, and due to the existence of the second mounting block 12a, the other portion of the lower surface 112 of the first unit 11 isdepressed inwards into a second depression portion 12 b that is adjacentbetween the other portion of the lower surface 112 and the secondmounting block 12 a, as shown in FIG. 1E. The second unit 12 is providedwith a lower surface 122, and a first side surface 123, a second sidesurface 124, a third side surface 125 and a fourth side surface 126 thatare separately connected to the lower surface 122. The first sidesurface 123 is disposed corresponding to the third side surface 125, andthe second side surface 124 is disposed corresponding to the fourth sidesurface 126.

The first unit 11 and the second unit 12 have the same width W. Thelength L1 of the first unit 11 is greater than the length L2 of thesecond unit 12. The first unit 11 and the second unit 12 are of anintegrally formed structure. The third side surface 115 of the firstunit 11 is flush with the third side surface 125 of the second unit 12to form an integrally formed surface. Similarly, the second side surface114 of the first unit 11 and the second side surface 124 of the secondunit 12 are molded into an integrally formed surface, and the fourthside surface 116 of the first unit 11 and the fourth side surface 126 ofthe second unit 12 are molded into an integrally formed surface.

With continuous reference to FIG. 1C, FIG. 1D and FIG. 1F, the firstunit 11 includes a first locating pin hole 1111 a, a second locating pinhole 1111 b, a first fluid flowing through hole 1112 a, a second fluidflowing through hole 1112 b, a first threaded hole 1113 a, a secondthreaded hole 1113 b, a third threaded hole 1113 c, a fourth threadedhole 1113 d, a first lower threaded hole 1121 a, a second lower threadedhole 1121 b, a first bolt hole 1114 a, and a second bolt hole 1114 b.The first locating pin hole 1111 a and the second locating pin hole 1111b are disposed at a side of the upper surface 111 that is close to thefirst side surface 113, and are through holes extending through theupper surface 111 and the lower surface 112.

The first fluid flowing through hole 1112 a and the second fluid flowingthrough hole 1112 b are disposed at sides of the upper surface 111 thatare close to the first side surface 113 and the third side surface 115,respectively, where the first fluid flowing through hole 1112 a isdisposed between the first locating pin hole 1111 a and the secondlocating pin hole 1111 b, and the second fluid flowing through hole 1112b is disposed between the third threaded hole 1113 c and the fourththreaded hole 11113 d. Referring to FIG. 1E, a first channel 1115 a isdisposed between the first fluid flowing through hole 1112 a and thesecond fluid flowing through hole 1112 b to communicate the first fluidflowing through hole 1112 a with the second fluid flowing through hole1112 b. In this embodiment, the first channel 1115 a extends from an endof the first unit 11 that is close to the second mounting block 12 a toan end of the first unit 11 that is close to the second depressionportion 12 b, and may also be deemed to extend from an end of the firstunit 11 that is close to the third side surface 115 to an end of thefirst unit 11 that is close to the first side surface 113. To avoid thata fluid remains in the first channel 1115 a when flowing therethrough,the first channel 1115 a may be subjected to a treatment to have amirror surface. The above-mentioned treatment, for example, may includefirstly forming an opening that communicates with the first channel 1115a in the first side surface 113 and performing a burnishing treatment onthe first channel 1115 a to allow the first channel 1115 a to have amirror surface, and then plugging the opening by welding.

The first threaded hole 1113 a, the second threaded hole 1113 b, thethird threaded hole 1113 c, the fourth threaded hole 1113 d, the firstlower threaded hole 1121 a and the second lower threaded hole 1121 b areall threaded blind holes, i.e., non-penetrating holes, where the firstthreaded hole 1113 a and the second threaded hole 1113 b are disposed ata side of the upper surface 111 that is close to the first side surface113, and the first threaded hole 1113 a is adjacent to the firstlocating pin hole 1111 a, while the second threaded hole 1113 b isadjacent to the second locating pin hole 1111 b. The third threaded hole1113 c and the fourth threaded hole 1113 d are disposed at a side of theupper surface 111 that is close to the third side surface 115, and thethird threaded hole 1113 c is close to the second side surface 114,while the fourth threaded hole 1113 d is close to the fourth sidesurface 116. The first lower threaded hole 1121 a and the second lowerthreaded hole 1121 b are formed in the lower surface 112 and close tothe first bolt hole 1114 a and the second bolt hole 1114 b.

Referring to FIG. 1E, in an embodiment of the present invention, thesecond fluid flowing through hole 1112 b includes an enlarged portion11121, a step surface 11122 and a channel portion 11123. An innerdiameter of the enlarged portion 11121 is greater than that of thechannel portion 11123. The step surface 11122 is connected between theenlarged portion 11121 and the channel portion 11123 and is a burnishedmirror surface, so that a sealing effect can be achieved when the secondfluid flowing through hole 1112 b communicates with other fluid controlelement. Fluid flowing through holes in other embodiments andembodiments may be the same as above and will not be redundantlydescribed below.

The first bolt hole 1114 a and the second bolt hole 1114 b are disposedat sides of the upper surface 111 that are close to the second sidesurface 114 and the fourth side surface 116, respectively. Moreparticularly, the first bolt hole 1114 a is disposed adjacent betweenthe first threaded hole 1113 a and the third threaded hole 1113 c, andthe second bolt hole 1114 b is disposed adjacent between the secondthreaded hole 1113 b and the fourth threaded hole 1113 d. The first bolthole 1114 a and the second bolt hole 1114 b are both through holesextending through the upper surface 111 and the lower surface 112, and aprojection portion is disposed in each of the through holes, i.e., thefirst bolt hole 1114 a and the second bolt hole 1114 b, so that thethrough holes, i.e., the first bolt hole 1114 a and the second bolt hole1114 b, have different diameters R1 and R2, where the diameter close tothe upper surface 111 is R1, while the diameter close to the lowersurface 112 is R2, and R1 is greater than R2, as shown in FIG. 1F.

As shown in FIG. 2, a two-port connector 1 b of the present invention isthe same as the first embodiment 1 a as described above in otherarrangements and structures, except that a distance between the thirdthreaded hole 1113 c and the fourth threaded hole 113 d is shorter thanthat between the third threaded hole 1113 c and the fourth threaded hole113 d in the first embodiment 1 a.

FIG. 3A-E show a third embodiment 1 c of a two-port connector of thepresent invention. The two-port connector 1 c has a first unit 11 and asecond unit 12. The first unit 11 includes a first mounting block 11 a,a first depression portion 11 b and a first tongue portion 11 c, and thefirst unit 11 further has an upper surface 111, a lower surface 112opposite to the upper surface 111, and a first side surface 113, asecond side surface 114, a third side surface 115 and a fourth sidesurface 116 that are connected to the upper surface 111 and the lowersurface 112, respectively. The first side surface 113 is disposedcorresponding to the third side surface 115, while the second sidesurface 114 is disposed corresponding to the fourth side surface 116.The second unit 12 includes a second mounting block 12 a and a seconddepression portion 12 b. The second mounting block 12 a protrudes from aportion of the lower surface 112 of the first unit 11, and due to theexistence of the second mounting block 12 a, the other portion of thelower surface 112 of the first unit 11 is depressed inwards into asecond depression portion 12 b that is adjacent between the otherportion of the lower surface 112 and the second mounting block 12 a, asshown in FIG. 3E. The second tongue portion 12 c extends from the secondmounting block 12 a toward a side far away from the second depressionportion 12 b and protrudes from the first unit 11. The second unit 12 isprovided with an upper surface 121, a lower surface 122 opposite to theupper surface 121, and a first side surface 123, a second side surface124, a third side surface 125 and a fourth side surface 126 that areconnected to the upper surface 121 and the lower surface 122,respectively. The first side surface 123 is disposed corresponding tothe third side surface 125, and the second side surface 124 is disposedcorresponding to the fourth side surface 126.

In this embodiment, the first unit 11 and the second unit 12 are of anintegrally formed structure. Specifically, the first unit 11 and thesecond unit 12 have the same width W. The second side surface 114 of thefirst unit 11 is flush with the second side surface 124 of the secondunit 12 to form a Z-shaped plane, and the fourth side surface 116 of thefirst unit 11 is flush with the fourth side surface 126 of the secondunit 12 to form a Z-shaped plane.

Referring to FIG. 3C and FIG. 3D, the first unit 11 further includes afirst locating pin hole 1111 a, a second locating pin hole 1111 b, afirst fluid flowing through hole 1112 a, a second fluid flowing throughhole 1112 b, a first threaded hole 1113 a, a second threaded hole 1113b, a third threaded hole 1113 c, a fourth threaded hole 1113 d, a firstlower threaded hole 1121 a, a second lower threaded hole 1121 b, a firstbolt hole 1114 a, and a second bolt hole 1114 b.

The first locating pin hole 1111 a and the second locating pin hole 1111b are both through holes extending through the upper surface 111 and thelower surface 112. The first locating pin hole 1111 a is located betweenthe first threaded hole 1113 a and the first side surface 113, and thesecond locating pin hole 1111 b is located between the second threadedhole 1113 b and the first side surface 113. The first fluid flowingthrough hole 1112 a and the second fluid flowing through hole 1112 b aredisposed at sides of the upper surface 111 that are close to the firstside surface 113 and the third side surface 115, respectively. A firstchannel 1115 a is disposed between the first fluid flowing through hole1112 a and the second fluid flowing through hole 1112 b to communicatethe first fluid flowing through hole 1112 a with the second fluidflowing through hole 1112 b. In this embodiment, the first channel 1115a extends from an end of the first unit 11 that is close to the secondmounting block 12 a to an end of the first unit 11 that is close to thesecond depression portion 12 b. To avoid that a fluid remains in thefirst channel 1115 a when flowing therethrough, the first channel 1115 amay be subjected to a treatment to have a mirror surface, as describedabove.

The first threaded hole 1113 a, the second threaded hole 1113 b, thethird threaded hole 1113 c, the fourth threaded hole 1113 d, the firstlower threaded hole 1121 a and the second lower threaded hole 1121 b areall threaded blind holes, where the first threaded hole 1113 a and thesecond threaded hole 1113 b are disposed at a side of the upper surface111 of the first unit 11 that is close to the first side surface 113.The third threaded hole 1113 c is disposed at a side of the uppersurface 111 that is close to the second side surface 114, while thefourth threaded hole 1113 d is close to the fourth side surface 116. Inthis embodiment, the first threaded hole 1113 a, the second threadedhole 1113 b and the second fluid flowing through hole 1112 b arearranged appropriately as vertexes of an isosceles triangle. The firstlower threaded hole 1121 a and the second lower threaded hole 1121 b areformed in the lower surface 112 and close to the first bolt hole 1114 aand the second bolt hole 1114 b.

The first bolt hole 1114 a and the second bolt hole 1114 b are boththrough holes extending through the upper surface 111 and the lowersurface 112, and a projection portion is disposed in each of the throughholes, so that the through holes, i.e., the first bolt hole 1114 a andthe second bolt hole 1114 b, have different diameters R1 and R2, wherethe diameter close to the upper surface 111 is R1, while the diameterclose to the lower surface 112 is R2, and R1 is greater than R2 (pleaserefer to FIG. 1F for the structure of the bolt holes). In thisembodiment, the first bolt hole 1114 a is disposed between the firstthreaded hole 1113 a and the third threaded hole 1113 c, and the secondbolt hole 1114 b is disposed between the second threaded hole 1113 b andthe fourth threaded hole 1113 d.

The second unit 12 further includes a first locating pin hole 1211 a, asecond locating pin hole 1211 b, a first through hole 1216 a, a secondthrough hole 1216 b, a fifth threaded hole 1213 e, and a sixth threadedhole 1213 f.

The first locating pin hole 1211 a and the second locating pin hole 1211b are disposed at a side of the upper surface 121 of the second unit 12that is close to the first unit 11 and are both through holes extendingthrough the upper surface 121 and the lower surface 122. The fifththreaded hole 1213 e and the sixth threaded hole 1213 f are disposed ata side of the upper surface 121 of the second unit 12 that is far awayfrom the first unit 11. In this embodiment, the fifth threaded hole 1213e and the sixth threaded hole 1213 f are through holes extending throughthe upper surface 121 and the lower surface 122. The first through hole1216 a and the second through hole 1216 b are disposed between the firstlocating pin hole 1211 a and the fifth threaded hole 1213 e, and betweenthe second locating pin hole 1211 b and the sixth threaded hole 1213 f,respectively.

A fourth embodiment 1 d of a two-port connector of the present inventionis as shown in FIG. 4. The two-port connector 1 d and the two-portconnector 1 c differ in that the two-port connector 1 d lacks the firstlocating pin hole 1111 a, the second locating pin hole 1111 b, the firstlower threaded hole 1121 a, and the second lower threaded hole 1121 b;and the first threaded hole 1113 a and the second threaded hole 1113 bare relatively close to each other and symmetrically disposed about thefirst fluid flowing through hole 1112 a. In addition, the first threadedhole 1113 a, the second threaded hole 1113 b and the first fluid flowingthrough hole 1112 a are arranged in a virtual straight line. Otherarrangements and structures are the same with the third embodiment 1 c.

Three-Port Connectors

A three-port connector of the present invention is a connector withthree flowing through holes that can be used as fluid inlets or fluidoutlets. For example, in actual use, there may be one fluid inlet andtwo fluid outlets, or two fluid inlets and one fluid outlet; or, onlytwo flowing through holes are used as a fluid inlet and a fluid outlet.

FIG. 5A-G show a first embodiment 2 a of a three-port connector of thepresent invention. The three-port connector 2 a has a first unit 11, asecond unit 12 and an extension unit 13. The first unit 11 includes afirst mounting block 11 a, a first depression portion 11 b and a firsttongue portion 11 c. The first unit 11 includes an upper surface 111, alower surface 112 opposite to the upper surface 111, and a first sidesurface 113, a second side surface 114, a third side surface 115 and afourth side surface 116 that are connected to the upper surface 111 andthe lower surface 112, respectively. The first side surface 113 isdisposed corresponding to the third side surface 115, while the secondside surface 114 is disposed corresponding to the fourth side surface116.

The second unit 12 includes a second mounting block 12 a, a seconddepression portion 12 b, and a second tongue portion 12 c. The secondmounting block 12 a protrudes from a portion of the lower surface 112 ofthe first unit 11, and due to the existence of the second mounting block12 a, the other portion of the lower surface 112 of the first unit 11 isdepressed inwards into a second depression portion 12 b that is adjacentbetween the other portion of the lower surface 112 and the secondmounting block 12 a, as shown in FIG. 5B. The second tongue portion 12 cextends from the second mounting block 12 a toward a side far away fromthe second depression portion 12 b to protrude from the first unit 11.The second unit 12 also has an upper surface 121, a lower surface 122opposite to the upper surface 121, and a first side surface 123, asecond side surface 124, a third side surface 125 and a fourth sidesurface 126 that are connected to the upper surface 121 and the lowersurface 122, respectively. The first side surface 123 is disposedcorresponding to the third side surface 125, and the second side surface124 is disposed corresponding to the fourth side surface 126.

The extension unit 13 protrudes outwards from one ends of the first unit11 and the second unit 12 that are close to the second side surfaces114, 124. The extension unit 13 includes an upper surface 131, a lowersurface 132 opposite to the upper surface 131, and a first side surface133, a second side surface 134, a third side surface 135 and a fourthside surface 136 that are connected to the upper surface 131 and thelower surface 132, respectively. The first side surface 133 is disposedcorresponding to the third side surface 135. The extension unit 13further includes a retaining wall 137 extending and protruding inparallel to the second tongue portion 12 c, as shown in FIG. 5A. A firstarc-like recess portion 21 is formed between the first side surface 133of the extension unit 13 and the second side surface 114 of the firstunit 11. A second arc-like recess portion 22 is formed between the thirdside surface 135 of the extension unit 13 and the second side surface124 of the second unit 12, and a third arc-like recess portion 23 isformed between the retaining wall 137 and the third side surface 115.

In this embodiment, the first unit 11, the second unit 12 and theextension unit are of an integrally formed structure, i.e., the firstunit 11 and the second unit 12 have the same width W.

The first unit 11 further includes a first locating pin hole 1111 a, asecond locating pin hole 1111 b, a first fluid flowing through hole 1112a, a second fluid flowing through hole 1112 b, a first threaded hole1113 a, a second threaded hole 1113 b, a third threaded hole 1113 c, afourth threaded hole 1113 d, a first lower threaded hole 1121 a, asecond lower threaded hole 1121 b, a first bolt hole 1114 a, and asecond bolt hole 1114 b. The extension unit 13 further includes a thirdfluid flowing through hole 1312, a fifth threaded hole 1313 a, and asixth threaded hole 1313 b.

The first locating pin hole 1111 a and the second locating pin hole 1111b are both disposed at a side of the upper surface 111 that is close tothe first side surface 113 and are both through holes extending throughthe upper surface 111 and the lower surface 112.

The first fluid flowing through hole 1112 a and the second fluid flowingthrough hole 1112 b are disposed at sides of the upper surface 111 thatare close to the first side surface 113 and the third side surface 115,respectively, and the third fluid flowing through hole 1312 is disposedat a side of the upper surface 131 that is close to the second sidesurface 134. A first channel 1115 a is disposed between the first fluidflowing through hole 1112 a and the second fluid flowing through hole1112 b to communicate the first fluid flowing through hole 1112 a withthe second fluid flowing through hole 1112 b, and a second channel 1115b is also disposed between the second fluid flowing through hole 1112 band the third fluid flowing through hole 1312 to communicate the secondfluid flowing through hole 1112 b with the third fluid flowing throughhole 1312, where the first channel 1115 a and the second channel 1115 bare connected and communicate with each other and extend in directionsperpendicular to each other. In other words, the fluid flowing throughhole 1112 a communicates with the second fluid flowing through hole 1112b and the third fluid flowing through hole 1312 through the firstchannel 1115 a and the second channel 1115 b. To avoid that a fluidremains in such channels when flowing therethrough, in this embodiment,such channels are both treated to have a mirror surface.

The first threaded hole 1113 a, the second threaded hole 1113 b, thethird threaded hole 1113 c, the fourth threaded hole 1113 d, the fifththreaded hole 1313 a, the sixth threaded hole 1313 b, the first lowerthreaded hole 1121 a and the second lower threaded hole 1121 b are allthreaded blind holes, where the first threaded hole 1113 a and thesecond threaded hole 1113 b are disposed at a side of the upper surface111 of the first unit 11 that is close to the first side surface 113,and the first threaded hole 1113 a and the second threaded hole 1113 bare also disposed at the side of the upper surface 111 that is close tothe first side surface 113. The third threaded hole 1113 c is disposedat a side of the upper surface 111 that is close to the second sidesurface 114, while the fourth threaded hole 1113 d is disposed at a sideof the upper surface 111 that is close to the fourth side surface 116.The fifth threaded hole 1313 a and the sixth threaded hole 1313 b aredisposed at a side of the upper surface 131 of the extension unit 13that is close to the second side surface 134, and the third fluidflowing through hole 1312 is disposed between the fifth threaded hole1313 a and the sixth threaded hole 1313 b. The first lower threaded hole1121 a and the second lower threaded hole 1121 b are formed in the lowersurface 112 and close to the first bolt hole 1114 a and the second bolthole 1114 b.

The first bolt hole 1114 a and the second bolt hole 1114 b are boththrough holes extending through the upper surface 111 and the lowersurface 112. Similar to the structure of the bolt holes as describedabove (please refer to FIG. 1F), a projection portion is disposed ineach of the through holes, so that the through holes, i.e., the firstbolt hole 1114 a and the second bolt hole 1114 b, have differentdiameters R1 and R2, where the diameter close to the upper surface 111is R1, while the diameter close to the lower surface 112 is R2, and R1is greater than R2. In this embodiment, the first bolt hole 1114 a isdisposed between the first threaded hole 1113 a and the third threadedhole 1113 c, and the second bolt hole 1114 b is disposed between thesecond threaded hole 1113 b and the fourth threaded hole 1113 d.

The second unit 12 further includes a third locating pin hole 1211 c, afourth locating pin hole 1211 d, a first through hole 1216 a, a secondthrough hole 1216 b, a seventh threaded hole 1213 g and an eighththreaded hole 1213 h.

The third locating pin hole 1211 c and the fourth locating pin hole 1211d are disposed at a side of the upper surface 121 of the second unit 12that is close to the first unit 11 and are both through holes extendingthrough the upper surface 121 and the lower surface 122. The sevenththreaded hole 1213 g and the eighth threaded hole 1213 h are disposed ata side of the upper surface 121 of the second unit 12 that is far awayfrom the first unit 11. In this embodiment, the seventh threaded hole1213 g and the eighth threaded hole 1213 h are both through holesextending through the upper surface 121 and the lower surface 122. Thefirst through hole 1216 a and the second through hole 1216 b aredisposed close to the third locating pin hole 1211 c and the sevenththreaded hole 1213 g and close to the fourth locating pin hole 1211 dand the eighth threaded hole 1213 h, respectively.

A second embodiment 2 b of a three-port connector of the presentinvention is as shown in FIG. 6. The three-port connector 2 b is thesame as the first embodiment 1 a as described above in otherarrangements and structures, except for the upper surface 111 of thefirst unit 11. In the three-port connector 2 b, the upper surface 111 ofthe first unit 11 does not include the first locating pin hole 1111 aand the second locating pin hole 1111 b, and the positions of the firstthreaded hole 1113 a and the second threaded hole 1113 b are changed sothat the two threaded holes and the first fluid flowing through hole1112 a are arranged in a virtual straight line.

Connectors with Four Ports and More than Four Ports

A connector with four ports or more than four ports of the presentinvention is a connector with four or more than four fluid flowingthrough holes as fluid inlets or fluid outlets without particulardirections.

FIG. 7A-C show a first embodiment of a connector with more than fourports of the present invention. Except that the first unit 11 furtherincludes a fourth fluid flowing through hole 1112 c, other structuresare the same with the three-port connector 2 a as described above, soonly the structure of the fluid flowing through holes will be describedbelow while other structures may not be redundantly described.

The first fluid flowing through hole 1112 a and the second fluid flowingthrough hole 1112 b of the connector 3 a with more than four ports aredisposed at sides of the upper surface 111 that are close to the firstside surface 113 and the third side surface 115, respectively, and thefourth fluid flowing through hole 1112 c is disposed between the firstfluid flowing through hole 1112 a and the second fluid flowing throughhole 1112 b and close to the second fluid flowing through hole 1112 b.In an embodiment, the first fluid flowing through hole 1112 a, thesecond fluid flowing through hole 1112 b and the fourth fluid flowingthrough hole 1112 c are arranged in a virtual straight line in the uppersurface 111. The third fluid flowing through hole 1312 is disposed at aside of the upper surface 131 of the extension unit 13 that is close tothe second side surface 134, and the third fluid flowing through hole1312 is arranged between the fifth threaded hole 1313 a and the sixththreaded hole 1313 b.

A first channel 1115 a is disposed between the first fluid flowingthrough hole 1112 a and the fourth fluid flowing through hole 1112 c tocommunicate the first fluid flowing through hole 1112 a with the fourthfluid flowing through hole 1112 c. A second channel 1115 b is alsodisposed between the second fluid flowing through hole 1112 b and thethird fluid flowing through hole 1312 to communicate the second fluidflowing through hole 1112 b with the third fluid flowing through hole1312. Unlike the channel design of the three-port connector, in thisembodiment, the first channel 1115 a does not communicate with thesecond channel 1115 b, and therefore, a structure of four ports isformed. In addition, the first channel 1115 a and the second channel1115 b extend in directions perpendicular to each other. To avoid that afluid remains in such channels when flowing therethrough, in thisembodiment, such channels are both treated to have a mirror surface.

A second embodiment 3 b of a connector with more than four ports of thepresent invention is as shown in FIG. 8. In the connector 3 b with morethan four ports, other arrangements and structures are all the same,except that the upper surface 111 of the first unit 11 is different fromthat of the first embodiment. In the second embodiment, there are nofirst locating pin hole 1111 a and second locating pin hole 1111 b inthe upper surface 111 of the first unit 11 thereof, and the positions ofthe first threaded hole 1113 a and the second threaded hole 1113 b arechanged so that the two threaded holes and the first fluid flowingthrough hole 1112 a are arranged in a virtual straight line.

A third embodiment 3 c of a connector with more than four ports of thepresent invention is as shown in FIG. 9A-F. A first unit 11, a secondunit 12 and an extension unit 13 are included in the connector 3 c withmore than four ports. The first unit 11 has an upper surface 111, alower surface 112 opposite to the upper surface 111, and a first sidesurface 113, a second side surface 114, a third side surface 115 and afourth side surface 116 that are connected to the upper surface 111 andthe lower surface 112, respectively. The first side surface 113 isdisposed corresponding to the third side surface 115, while the secondside surface 114 is disposed corresponding to the fourth side surface116. In this embodiment, the second unit 12 includes a second mountingblock 12 a and a second depression portion 12 b. The second mountingblock 12 a protrudes from a portion of the lower surface 112 of thefirst unit 11, and due to the existence of the second mounting block 12a, the other portion of the lower surface 112 of the first unit 11 isdepressed inwards into a second depression portion 12 b that is adjacentbetween the other portion of the lower surface 112 and the secondmounting block 12 a, as shown in FIG. 9E. The second unit 12 is providedwith a lower surface 122, and a first side surface 123, a second sidesurface 124, a third side surface 125 and a fourth side surface 126 thatare separately connected to the lower surface 122. The first sidesurface 123 is disposed corresponding to the third side surface 125, andthe second side surface 124 is disposed corresponding to the fourth sidesurface 126.

The extension unit 13 protrudes outwards from one side ends of the firstunit 11 and the second unit 12 that are close to the second sidesurfaces 114, 124. In this embodiment, the side ends are different fromthe protruding end of the second mounting block 12 a. The extension unit13 includes an upper surface 131, a lower surface 132 opposite to theupper surface 131, and a first side surface 133, a second side surface134 and a third side surface 135 that are connected to the upper surface131 and the lower surface 132, respectively. The first side surface 133is disposed corresponding to the third side surface 135. A firstarc-like recess portion 21 is formed between the first side surface 133of the extension unit 13 and the second side surface 114 of the firstunit 11. A second arc-like recess portion 22 is formed between the thirdside surface 135 of the extension unit 13 and the second side surface114 of the first unit 11, and a third arc-like recess portion 23 isformed between the third side surface 115 and the second side surface124 of the second unit 12.

In this embodiment, the first unit 11, the second unit 12 and theextension unit 13 are of an integrally formed structure. In thisembodiment, the area of the second unit 12 is smaller than that of thefirst unit 11, so that the third side surface 115 of the first unit 11is flush with the third side surface 125 of the second unit 12 to form aflat surface.

The first unit 11 further includes a first locating pin hole 1111 a, asecond locating pin hole 1111 b, a first fluid flowing through hole 1112a, a second fluid flowing through hole 1112 b, a fourth fluid flowingthrough hole 1112 c, a fifth fluid flowing through hole 1112 d, a sixthfluid flowing through hole 1112 e, a first threaded hole 1113 a, asecond threaded hole 1113 b, a third threaded hole 1113 c, a fourththreaded hole 1113 d, a seventh threaded hole 1113 e, an eighth threadedhole 1113 f, a ninth threaded hole 1113 g, a tenth threaded hole 1113 h,a first lower threaded hole 1121 a, a second lower threaded hole 1121 b,a first bolt hole 1114 a, and a second bolt hole 1114 b. The extensionunit 13 further includes a third fluid flowing through hole 1312, afifth threaded hole 1313 a, and a sixth threaded hole 1313 b. The firstlocating pin hole 1111 a and the second locating pin hole 1111 b areboth disposed at a side of the upper surface 111 that is close to thefirst side surface 113 and are both through holes extending through theupper surface 111 and the lower surface 112.

The first fluid flowing through hole 1112 a and the second fluid flowingthrough hole 1112 b are disposed at sides of the upper surface 111 thatare close to the first side surface 113 and the third side surface 115,respectively. The third fluid flowing through hole 1312 is disposed at aside of the upper surface 131 of the extension unit 13 that is close tothe second side surface 134. The fourth fluid flowing through hole 1112c is disposed between the first fluid flowing through hole 1112 a andthe second fluid flowing through hole 1112 b. The fifth fluid flowingthrough hole 1112 d is disposed between the first fluid flowing throughhole 1112 a and the fourth fluid flowing through hole 1112 c. The sixthfluid flowing through hole 1112 e is disposed between the fourth fluidflowing through hole 1112 c and the second fluid flowing through hole1112 b. Thus, the first fluid flowing through hole 1112 a, the secondfluid flowing through hole 1112 b, the fourth fluid flowing through hole1112 c, the fifth fluid flowing through hole 1112 d and the sixth fluidflowing through hole 1112 e are arranged in a virtual straight line.

A first channel 1115 a is disposed between the first fluid flowingthrough hole 1112 a and the fifth fluid flowing through hole 1112 d tocommunicate the first fluid flowing through hole 1112 a with the fifthfluid flowing through hole 1112 d, and a second channel 1115 b is alsodisposed between the second fluid flowing through hole 1112 b and thesixth fluid flowing through hole 1112 e to communicate the second fluidflowing through hole 1112 b with the sixth fluid flowing through hole1112 e. In addition, a third channel 1115 c is disposed between thethird fluid flowing through hole 1312 and the fourth fluid flowingthrough hole 1112 c to communicate the third fluid flowing through hole1312 with the fourth fluid flowing through hole 1112 c. In thisembodiment, the first channel 1115 a, the second channel 1115 b and thethird channel 1115 c do not communicate with each other, and therefore,a structure of six ports is formed. Additionally, the first channel 1115a and the second channel 1115 b extend in directions parallel to eachother, and the first channel 1115 a and the third channel 1115 c extendin directions perpendicular to each other. Furthermore, to avoid that afluid remains in such channels when flowing therethrough, in thisembodiment, such channels are all treated to have a mirror surface.

The first threaded hole 1113 a, the second threaded hole 1113 b, thethird threaded hole 1113 c, the fourth threaded hole 1113 d, the fifththreaded hole 1313 a, the sixth threaded hole 1313 b, the sevenththreaded hole 1113 e, the eighth threaded hole 1113 f, the ninththreaded hole 1113 g, the tenth threaded hole 1113 h, the first lowerthreaded hole 1121 a and the second lower threaded hole 1121 b are allthreaded blind holes.

The first threaded hole 1113 a and the second threaded hole 1113 b aredisposed at a side of the upper surface 111 that is close to the firstside surface 113, and the first locating pin hole 1111 a and the secondlocating pin hole 1111 b are disposed between the first threaded hole1113 a and the second threaded hole 1113 b and the side of the uppersurface 111 that is close to the first side surface 113, respectively.

The third threaded hole 1113 c and the ninth threaded hole 1113 g areboth disposed at a side of the upper surface 111 that is close to thesecond side surface 114, and the fifth threaded hole 1313 a and thesixth threaded hole 1313 b are disposed in the upper surface 131 of theextension unit 13 next to the second side surface 134. Moreparticularly, the third threaded hole 1113 c is disposed close to thefirst arc-like recess portion 21, and the ninth threaded hole 1113 g isdisposed close to the second arc-like recess portion 22. Moreover, thethird fluid flowing through hole 1312 is disposed between the fifththreaded hole 1313 a and the sixth threaded hole 1313 b.

The seventh threaded hole 1113 e and the eighth threaded hole 1113 f aredisposed at a side of the first unit 11 that is close to the third sidesurface 115, so that the second fluid flowing through hole 1112 b isdisposed between the seventh threaded hole 1113 e and the eighththreaded hole 1113 f.

The fourth threaded hole 1113 d and the tenth threaded hole 1113 h areclose to the fourth side surface 116 and disposed between the secondthreaded hole 1113 b and the eighth threaded hole 1113 f, where thefourth threaded hole 1113 d is disposed close to the second threadedhole 1113 b, and the tenth threaded hole 1113 h is disposed close to theeighth threaded hole 1113 f. The first lower threaded hole 1121 a andthe second lower threaded hole 1121 b are disposed in the lower surface112 and close to the first bolt hole 1114 a and the second bolt hole1114 b.

The first bolt hole 1114 a and the second bolt hole 1114 b are boththrough holes extending through the upper surface 111 and the lowersurface 112, and a projection portion is disposed in each of the throughholes, so that the through holes, i.e., the first bolt hole 1114 a andthe second bolt hole 1114 b, have different diameters R1 and R2, wherethe diameter close to the upper surface 111 is R1, while the diameterclose to the lower surface 112 is R2, and R1 is greater than R2 (pleaserefer to FIG. 1F for the structure of the bolt holes). In thisembodiment, the first bolt hole 1114 a is disposed between the firstthreaded hole 1113 a and the third threaded hole 1113 c, and the secondbolt hole 1114 b is disposed between the second threaded hole 1113 b andthe fourth threaded hole 1113 d.

Connecting Pieces

A connecting piece is used for connecting the two-port connector, thethree-port connector and the connector with more than four ports asdescribed above and a pipe, and in the present invention, twoembodiments of the connecting piece will be illustrated as examples.

With reference to FIG. 10A-C, a first embodiment 4 a of a connectingpiece of the present invention is shown. The connecting piece 4 a has afirst unit and a second unit.

The first unit has an upper surface 111, a lower surface (not shown)opposite to the upper surface 111, and a first side surface 113, asecond side surface 114, a third side surface 115 and a fourth sidesurface (not shown) that are connected to the upper surface 111 and thelower surface, respectively. The first side surface is disposedcorresponding to the third side surface 115, and the second side surface114 is disposed corresponding to the fourth side surface (not shown).

The upper surface 111 of the first unit includes a first through hole1116 a, a second through hole 1116 b, and a first fluid flowing throughhole 1112 a, where the first fluid flowing through hole 1112 a isdisposed between the first through hole 1116 a and the second throughhole 1116 b.

In this embodiment, the first through hole 1116 a and the second throughhole 1116 b extend through the upper surface 111 and the lower surface(not shown), respectively, and the first fluid flowing through hole 1112a has an open end 1141 located in the second side surface 114.

The second unit is an element with a hollow tubular structure andincludes an inner surface 127 and an outer surface 128, and an end ofthe second unit communicates with the open end 1141 of the first fluidflowing through hole 1112 a.

A second embodiment 4 b of a connecting piece of the present inventionis as shown in FIG. 11A to FIG. 11B. The connecting piece 4 b includesonly a first unit that has an upper surface 111 and a lower surface 112opposite to the upper surface 111. The upper surface 111 of the firstunit 11 includes a first through hole 1116 a, a second through hole 1116b, and a groove 1117 that is disposed between the first through hole1116 a and the second through hole 1116 b.

In this embodiment, the first through hole 1116 a and the second throughhole 1116 b are through holes extending through the upper surface 111and the lower surface (not shown), respectively, and the groove 1117 hasa projection, allowing the groove 1117 to have different diameters,where the diameter close to the upper surface 111 is greater than thediameter close to the lower surface 112.

Fluid Control Devices

According to the present invention, a fluid control device mainlyincludes a base, a plurality of connecting blocks, and a plurality offluid control elements. The plurality of connecting blocks are at leasttwo selected from the two-port connector, the three-port connector andthe connector with more than four ports as described above and thus areadjacent to each other. Next, how such connectors are combined withapparatuses to form the fluid control device of the present inventionwill be illustrated through specific embodiments. It needs to be notedfirst that the combinations of the two-port connector, the three-portconnector, the connector with more than four ports and the connectingpiece as described above have no particular order, and a person skilledin the art may choose any appropriate combination therefrom according toactual requirements.

For example, to assemble a filter in the fluid control device of thepresent invention through such connectors, the filter may be connectedto two two-port connectors of the same or different embodiments; oralternatively, the filter may be connected to a two-port connector and athree-port connector. In another embodiment, to assemble a two-portshut-off valve in the fluid control device of the present inventionthrough such connectors, one of two connectors may be selected as thetwo-port connector, and the other may be the two-port connector, thethree-port connector, the connector with more than four ports, or theconnecting piece. In further another embodiment, to assemble athree-port shut-off valve in the fluid control device of the presentinvention through such connectors, one of two connectors may be selectedas the three-port connector, and the other may be the two-portconnector, the three-port connector, the connector with more than fourports, or the connecting piece. Or, in an embodiment, the fourthembodiment 1 d of the two-port connector is suitable for use at an endof a plurality of connectors, i.e., one side of the fourth embodiment 1d of the two-port connector is connected to another connector, whilethere is no connector at the other side.

With reference to FIG. 12A-C, an embodiment of a fluid control device ofthe present invention is shown that includes a base 20, a plurality ofconnecting blocks and a plurality of fluid control elements. Theplurality of connecting blocks include a two-port connector 1 d, atwo-port connector 1 c, and a connector 3 a with more than four ports.The plurality of fluid control elements include a gas inlet element 103,a hand-operated valve 104 and a first two-port shut-off valve 105 a. Theplurality of connecting blocks are disposed on the base 20 and arestacked upon one another and assembled transversely, and the pluralityof fluid control elements are disposed on the connecting blocks. Inaddition, the fluid control device further includes a plurality ofsealing plates 30 that are placed between the fluid control elements andthe connecting blocks and provided with a plurality of fluid throughholes 31, a plurality of locating holes 32, and gaskets 33 disposed inthe fluid through holes 31.

The base 20 may be made be made of a metal and include a plurality oflocating grooves 201. Assembling of the plurality of connecting blockswill be illustrated with the two-port connector 1 c and the two-portconnector 1 d by referring to FIG. 12C. The second tongue portion 12 cof the second unit 12 of the two-port connector 1 c is disposed in thesecond depression portion 12 b of the second unit 12 of the two-portconnector 1 d, so that the third side surface 125 of the second unit 12of the two-port connector 1 d is abutted against the first side surface123 of the second unit 12 of the two-port connector 1 c. The firstlocating pin hole 1211 a, the second locating pin hole 1211 b, the firstthrough hole 1216 a, the second through hole 1216 b, the fifth threadedhole 1213 e and the sixth threaded hole 1213 f of the two-port connector1 d are aligned to the first locating pin hole 1111 a, the secondlocating pin hole 1111 b, the first lower threaded hole 1121 a, thesecond lower threaded hole 1121 b, the first bolt hole 1114 a and thesecond bolt hole 1114 b of the two-port connector 1 c, respectively.

Two first fasteners 40 a extend through the first locating pin hole 1211a and the first locating pin hole 1111 a, and the second locating pinhole 1211 b and the second locating pin hole 1111 b, respectively, sothat the two-port connector 1 d and the two-port connector 1 c arepositioned to each other. Two second fasteners 40 b are put through thefirst through hole 1216 a and the first lower threaded hole 1121 a, andthe second through hole 1216 b and the second lower threaded hole 1121 bfrom the locating groove 201 of the base 20, respectively, so that thetwo-port connector 1 d and the two-port connector 1 c are fixed to thebase 20. Two third fasteners 40 c extend through the first bolt hole1114 a and the fifth threaded hole 1213 e, and the second bolt hole 1114b and the sixth threaded hole 1213 f, respectively, so that the two-portconnector 1 d and the two-port connector 1 c are locked to each other.Four fourth fasteners 40 d run through a through hole of thehand-operated valve 104 and the locating holes 32 of the sealing plates30 to be locked in the third threaded hole 1113 c and the fourththreaded hole 1113 d of the two-port connector 1 c and the thirdthreaded hole 1113 c and the fourth threaded hole 1113 d of the two-portconnector 1 d. In this embodiment, the first fasteners 40 a are plugpins, and the second fasteners 40 b, the third fasteners 40 c and thefourth fasteners 40 d are bolts. In addition, a plurality of fifthfasteners 40 e run through a through hole of the gas inlet element 103to be locked in the first threaded hole 1113 a and the second threadedhole 1113 b of the two-port connector 1 d.

With continuous reference to FIG. 13, it is a schematic diagram of afluid control device of an embodiment of the present invention.

The fluid control device includes a base 20, a connector module 1, and afluid control element module 100. The fluid control element module 100includes a plurality of fluid control elements. In this embodiment, thefluid control elements to be disposed in the fluid control device from adirection where a gas enters toward a direction where the gas exits aresequentially as follows: a gas inlet element 103, a hand-operated valve104, a first two-port shut-off valve 105 a, a first three-port shut-offvalve 106 a, a high-cleanness pressure regulator valve 107, a pressuresensor 108, a filter 109, a second two-port shut-off valve, a mass flowcontroller 110, a second three-port shut-off valve 106 b, and a thirdtwo-port shut-off valve 105 c.

Referring to FIG. 13, the connector module 1 includes a plurality ofconnecting blocks that are arranged in an axial direction. Each of theplurality of connecting blocks includes an upper half portion U and alower half portion L. The upper half portion U includes at least onefluid inlet, at least one fluid outlet, and at least one connectingchannel C that communicates the fluid inlet with the fluid outlet andextends in a horizontal direction, and the lower half portion L has adepression portion and a tongue portion extending and protruding faraway from the depression portion in the axial direction. In thisembodiment, the connecting channel C is above an upper surface P of thetongue portion, and the connecting channel C is separated from a bottomsurface of the connecting block by a height. Adjacent connecting blocksare connected to each other by accommodating the tongue portion in thedepression portion. The upper half portion U has a longitudinallypenetrating upper fixing hole, and the lower half portion L has a lowerfixing hole longitudinally penetrating through the tongue portion andcorresponding to the upper fixing hole. Adjacent connecting blocks arefixed to each other by putting at least one fastener through the upperfixing hole and the lower fixing hole. For example, in FIG. 12C, thethird fasteners 40 c run through the first bolt hole 1114 a and thefifth threaded hole 1213 e, respectively. In this embodiment, the fluidinlet, the fluid outlet and the connecting channel C form a U-shapedchannel extending through a single connecting block.

Alternatively, the connector module 1 includes a plurality of connectingblocks that are arranged in an axial direction. Each of the plurality ofconnecting blocks includes at least one fluid inlet, at least one fluidoutlet, and at least one connecting channel C that communicates thefluid inlet with the fluid outlet and extends in a horizontal directionto be separated from a bottom surface of the connecting block by aheight, where a protruding first tongue portion is formed at one end ofthe connecting block, while a depression portion is formed at the otherend thereof. Adjacent connecting blocks are connected to each other byaccommodating the first tongue portion in the depression portion. Inthis embodiment, the protruding direction of the tongue portion isparallel to the axial direction. The first tongue portion has alongitudinally penetrating first fixing hole. A protruding second tongueportion is further formed at the other end of the connecting block, andthe second tongue portion has a longitudinally penetrating second fixinghole. Adjacent connecting blocks are fixed to each other by putting afastener through the first fixing hole and the second fixing hole. Inthis embodiment, the fluid inlet, the fluid outlet and the connectingchannel C form a U-shaped channel extending through a single connectingblock. The fluid control element is disposed above the base 20 and theconnector module 1, and has an outlet O and an inlet I. The outlet O andthe inlet I are connected to the fluid inlet of the connecting block andthe fluid outlet of the adjacent connecting block. Such structuralfeatures of the fixing holes, the fasteners, the fluid inlet, the fluidoutlet, the depression portion and the tongue portions are as shown inFIG. 1A through FIG. 9F.

The connector module 1 allows the fluid control element to be fastenedto the base 20, and includes a plurality of connectors. Connectors usedin FIG. 12 from a direction where a gas enters toward a direction wherethe gas exits are sequentially as follows: the two-port connector 1 d,the two-port connector 1 c, the connector 3 a with more than four ports,the two-port connector 1 d, the two-port connector 1 d, the two-portconnector 1 d, the two-port connector 1 d, the two-port connector 1 a,the two-port connector 1 a, the connector 3 a with more than four ports,and the connector 3 b with more than four ports. In the presentinvention, such connectors are stacked upon one another through thefirst units thereof and the second units of adjacent connectors toachieve the purpose of simple assembling and disassembling. In additionto this, a gas can flow between such connectors and the fluid controlelement, thereby reducing the risks of gas leakage.

While the present invention are described in detail above, the above aremerely descriptions of preferred embodiments of the present inventionand do not limit the scope of implementation of the present invention.That is, equivalent alterations, modifications and the like made withinthe scope of application of the present invention shall all encompassedwithin the patent scope of the present invention.

What is claimed is:
 1. A connector module for a fluid control device,the connector module comprising: a plurality of connecting blocks,arranged in an axial direction, each of the connecting block connectingblocks comprising at least one fluid inlet, at least one fluid outlet,and at least one connecting channel communicating the fluid inlet withthe fluid outlet and extending in a horizontal direction, the connectingchannel separated from a bottom surface of one of the plurality ofconnecting blocks by a height, wherein a first tongue portion is formedto protrude from one end of the connecting block, and a depressionportion is formed at the other end of the connecting block, the two ofadjacent connecting blocks are connected to each other by accommodatingthe first tongue portion in the depression portion; and a second tongueportion is formed to protrude from the other end of the connectingblock; wherein the first tongue portion comprises a plurality of firstfixing holes including a plurality of first threaded holes formed on anupper surface of the first tongue portion without extending through theupper surface, a plurality of lower threaded holes formed on a lowersurface of the first tongue portion without extending through the lowersurface, and a plurality of bolt holes longitudinally extending throughthe first tongue portion; wherein the second tongue portion comprises aplurality of second fixing holes including a plurality of through holeslongitudinally extending through the second tongue portion andrespectively corresponding to the plurality of lower threaded holes, anda plurality of second threaded holes longitudinally extending throughthe second tongue portion and respectively corresponding to theplurality of bolt holes; wherein two of the adjacent connecting blocksare fixed to each other through a plurality of fasteners respectivelypenetrating each of the plurality of first fixing holes and each of theplurality of second fixing holes.
 2. The connector module of claim 1,wherein the fluid inlet, the fluid outlet and the connecting channelform a U-shaped channel extending through one of the plurality ofconnecting blocks.
 3. A fluid control device, comprising: a base; aconnector module, disposed on the base, the connector module comprising:a first connector, comprising a first unit, comprising a first mountingblock and a first tongue portion disposed adjacent to the first mountingblock and integrally connected to the first mounting block, wherein thefirst unit is provided with a first upper surface, a first lower surfaceopposite to the first upper surface, a first fluid flowing through holeformed in the first upper surface, a second fluid flowing through holeformed in the first upper surface, and a first channel communicating thefirst fluid flowing through hole with the second fluid flowing throughhole and penetrating through the first unit; and a second unit, disposedunder the first unit and comprising a second mounting block protrudingfrom the first lower surface of the first mounting block, and a firstdepression portion depressed toward a lower surface of the first tongueportion; and a second connector, comprising: a third unit, comprising athird mounting block and a second tongue portion disposed adjacent tothe third mounting block and integrally connected to the third mountingblock, wherein the third unit is provided with a second upper surface, asecond lower surface opposite to the second upper surface, a third fluidflowing through hole formed in the second upper surface, a fourth fluidflowing through hole formed in the second upper surface, and a secondchannel communicating the third fluid flowing through hole with thefourth fluid flowing through hole and penetrating the third unit; and afourth unit, disposed under the third unit and comprising a thirdmounting block protruding from the second lower surface of the thirdmounting block, a second depression portion depressed toward a lowersurface of the second tongue portion, and a third tongue portionextending from the third mounting block toward a direction away from thesecond depression portion, wherein the first connector is abuttedagainst the second connector by accommodating the third tongue portionof the fourth unit in the first depression portion of the second unit;and a fluid control element, fastened to the base through the connectormodule and bridged across the first connector and the second connector;wherein the first tongue portion of the first unit is provided with aplurality of upper fixing holes including a plurality of first threadedholes formed on an upper surface of the first tongue portion withoutextending through the upper surface, a plurality of lower threaded holesformed on a lower surface of the first tongue portion without extendingthrough the upper surface, and a plurality of bolt holes longitudinallyextending through the first tongue portion; the third tongue portion ofthe fourth unit is provided with a plurality of lower fixing holesincluding a plurality of through holes longitudinally extending throughthe third tongue portion and respectively corresponding to the pluralityof lower threaded holes, and a plurality of second threaded holeslongitudinally extending through the third tongue portion andrespectively corresponding to the plurality of bolt holes; and the firstconnector and the second connector are fixed to each other through aplurality of fasteners respectively penetrating through each of theplurality of upper fixing holes of the first unit and each of theplurality of lower fixing holes of the fourth unit.
 4. The fluid controldevice of claim 3, wherein the fluid control element is selected from agroup consisting of a pressure reducing valve, a pressure gauge, a massflow controller, a filter, a hand-operated valve, a two-port shut-offvalve, a three-port shut-off valve, a high-cleanness pressure regulatorvalve, a pressure sensor and combinations thereof.
 5. The fluid controldevice of claim 3, wherein the first connector and the second connectorare fixed to each other through at least one fastener penetratingthrough the plurality of upper fixing holes of the first unit and theplurality of lower fixing holes of the fourth unit.